Best of the Boat voting ends Friday!
Olympic fever is sweeping the globe, and Steamboat is no exception. Since I am "athletically declined" (as I like to put it), the closest I'm going to get to the Olympics any time soon is the annual Best of the Boat survey.
Winning Best of the Boat has helped my business immensely--and in turn, has allowed me to help support Chelsea and Rachel in their dreams of a full-time massage career. And this year, I'm up for TWO categories!
So please, won't you cast your vote? All you need is an email address (or two ;) ).
Olympic fever is sweeping the globe, and Steamboat is no exception. Since I am "athletically declined" (as I like to put it), the closest I'm going to get to the Olympics any time soon is the annual Best of the Boat survey.
Winning Best of the Boat has helped my business immensely--and in turn, has allowed me to help support Chelsea and Rachel in their dreams of a full-time massage career. And this year, I'm up for TWO categories!
So please, won't you cast your vote? All you need is an email address (or two ;) ).
- Go to www.bestoftheboat.com
- Verify your email address.
- Go to "Business and Community" and click on "Heartfire Massage" under Best Spa
- Go to "Professionals" and write in "Erica Olson, Heartfire Massage" under Best Massage Therapist
- Bask in glory!
Olympic hickeys
Michael Phelps and other Olympians are getting a lot of notice these days--not just for their athletic feats, but for the circular "bruises" they have been sporting. Some of my more savvy clients will recognize those marks for what they are: evidence of cupping therapy.
Cupping uses suction to lift fascia and open tight, compressed tissue. It pulls stagnant, deoxygenated blood out of the targeted area and allows fresh blood to enter. The increased blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients to tired muscle tissue, helping the body recover faster. Cupping also helps loosen connective tissue adhesions, improving the body's ability to move freely and without restriction.
Cupping uses suction to lift fascia and open tight, compressed tissue. It pulls stagnant, deoxygenated blood out of the targeted area and allows fresh blood to enter. The increased blood flow brings oxygen and nutrients to tired muscle tissue, helping the body recover faster. Cupping also helps loosen connective tissue adhesions, improving the body's ability to move freely and without restriction.
But what about those bruises?
To start with, they're not actually bruises. Blood is suffused through the cellular walls, not released via broken blood vessels. Cupping marks have a sharply defined edge and do not spread, which is not the case for bruises. However, like bruises, it often takes cup marks a few days to disappear. Some people report slight soreness while the marks are fading, while others say they don't feel any discomfort at all.
The darker the "cup kiss," the more restricted the blood flow is in the area. Blood gets its red color as a result of the interaction between hemoglobin and oxygen; the more oxygen, the brighter red it is. Frequent cupping can reduce the amount of dramatic marking, as the tissue continues to open and circulation increases.
The darker the "cup kiss," the more restricted the blood flow is in the area. Blood gets its red color as a result of the interaction between hemoglobin and oxygen; the more oxygen, the brighter red it is. Frequent cupping can reduce the amount of dramatic marking, as the tissue continues to open and circulation increases.
What are the benefits of cupping?
Is it better than massage
One of the main advantages cupping has over traditional manual therapies is that it uses vacuum, rather than compression, to achieve its goals. This can be beneficial for any number of conditions, such as reducing swelling from recent injury or surgery, or working with individuals who may have difficulty relaxing. Personally, it is one of my absolute favorite self-care techniques.
Cupping utilizes a wide variety of methods, from gliding to rolling to frictioning--and yes, "parking," the technique responsible for leaving those distinctive circular marks. A good practitioner--particularly one who uses pneumatic cups rather than traditional "fire cupping"--can also vary the amount of vacuum and change the level of intensity.
Cupping utilizes a wide variety of methods, from gliding to rolling to frictioning--and yes, "parking," the technique responsible for leaving those distinctive circular marks. A good practitioner--particularly one who uses pneumatic cups rather than traditional "fire cupping"--can also vary the amount of vacuum and change the level of intensity.
Do you do this? Can I try it some time?
I received my Level One cupping certification three years ago and have been using it consistently both in my practice and at home. If you would like to integrate cupping into your session, I would be happy to do so at no extra charge. One of the nice things about cupping is that I can leave a cup in a static location to do its work while I use my hands elsewhere. You may wind up with a mark or two--but you'll be in good company!
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